Magneto.



E. J. KANE.

MAGNETO.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG.25, 1911.

9 L AW m m H 1 L H m h E. J. KANE.

MAGNETO.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG.25, 1911. I

Patented 0ct.20 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

EDMUND JOSEPH KANE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MAGNETO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 25, 1911.

Patented Oct. 20, 1914. Serial No. 615,984.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDMUND Josnrn KANE, acitizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cookand State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Magnetos, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactspecification.

The invention relates to improvementsin magnetos adapted for use withexplosive engines.

The object of the invention is to provide an electric igniter mechanismwith novel and improved means for firing the charge in the combustionchambers of explosive engines.

A further object of the invention is to simplify and improve the detailsof construction of electric ignitermechanisms, rendering the same moreellicient and capable of operating with uniform efliciency for 111-,creased periods of time over igniters not embodying the improvementsherein described and claimed.

A further object of the invention is to simplify and improve the detailsof con struction of an electric igniter whereby the operative parts aregenerally inclosed, presenting a more simple and pleasing appearance,said inclosure serving as a protection to the operative parts.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangementof the operative parts whereby variation in the se quence of theoperation of the various moving parts on account of wear will cause theleast possible disturbance to the sustained uniformity and efiiciency ofthe device.

To attain these ends and to accomplish certain other new and usefulobjects, the invention consists in the features of novelty hereinafterdescribed and shown in the drawings forming a part of thisspecification, and finally pointed out more particularly in the appendedclaims.

In the draWings Figure 1 is a view of a portion of the upper end of thecylinder of an explosive engine of the vertical type shown with theinvention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a view of the igniter detached andshowing the front cover plate removed. Fig. 3 is a view of the completeigniter taken at a right angle to the views of Figs. 1 and 2, with aportion of the adjacent armature or inductor operating spring auditssupporting arm in section. Fig. 4 is atop plan adapted hammer view ofthe device with the principal, operative parts in section to disclosetheir construction. Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional views 1 on lines 5-5 and6-6 respectively, of Fig. 3. Figs. 7 and 8 are enlarged perspectivegiews of details of the apparatus hereinafter escri bed. In Fig. 1 ofthe drawings, the invention is shown applied to an explosive engine ofthe vertical type, the cylinder of which is indicated by the referencecharacter 10. i

The usual side opening in the cylinder 10 is provided through which isinserted the igence character 11.

Cast integral with the flange portion 11 of the igniter block 11 is ahorizontal oiisct or an extension 11", carrying at its outer extremitythe inside plate, which is indicated by the reference character 20, theplate being connected thereto by screws 20.

The ignitcr block 11, and the flange portion 11 thereof are providedwith openings through which pass the stationary and mov-. ableelectrodes, the stationary electrode be ing designated by the referencecharacter 14, and the movable electrode by the reference character 15.The stationary electrode 14 is insulated from the igniter block 11, andis provided at its outer extremity with the ignitcr point 16, and at itsother extremity is provided with a binding post 17, adapted to receivethe conductor 18, which at its other extremity is connected with bindingpost 19, mounted on inside cover plate 11, and insulated therefrom. Themovable electrode 15 is provided at its inner extremity, to extendwithin the combustion of the cylinder opening, with a arm 21, and anigniterpoint 22, adapted to normally engage the igniter point 16 on thestationary electrode 11. At its other extremity the movable electrode 15is preferably smnewhat enlarged in diameter, as indicated in Figs. 3, 1and 5. Near its outer end it receives the coil spring 23, one end ofwhich is secured to the flange member 11, and the other end to theenlarged portion of the movable electrode shaft 15, by the binding screw24:. This spring normally holds the movable electrode chamber point 22in engagement with the stationary electrode point 16, through thetorsional 'action exerted upon the movable electrode shaft 15. At itsouter extremity, the movable electrode shaft 15 is provided with anextension 25, having two surfaces as indicated at 25*, 25, adapted to beengaged by two corresponding surfaces as indicated at 26*, 26 on thehammer arm 26, fixed to the rotor or armature shaft 27.

It will be noted that rotor shaft 27 is mounted to rotate in the sameaxial line as movable electrode shaft 15, but that both said shafts areentirely disconnected except for such contact as takes place between thecooperating surface 26 on the trip arm 26, and the similar surface 25,on the enlarged end of the, movable electrode shaft 15. The

relation of these cooperating parts is best shown in Fig-,5, in which itwill be seen that when the surfaces 25 on the movable electrode and 26on the trip arm 26 are in contact, the movable electrode arm 21, underthe tension of coil spring 23,'will at the same time be rocked to apoint where the stationary and movable electrode points 16, 22 willengage each other, as shown by the relation of these parts in Figs. 3, 5and 6.

By referring to Fig. 5 it will be seen at this.

instant that the cooperating parts 25 and 26 will be positioned so as tohave their greatest degree of separation.

In order to adapt the form of ignition device herein shown anddescribed, for use with a battery as well as a magneto it is preferably,although not necessarily, constructed so that the position of thecontact points on the electrodes is separated a short distance toprevent the battery from running down. This may be accomplished by sopositioning the trip arm 26 carrying the contact surfaces 26 and 26 andthe member 25 with the contact surfaces 25 and 26 in relation to theirrespective shafts which operate the magneto and themovable electrodeshaft respectively, so that when the parts are at rest, the tension ofthe more powerful springs 30, 31 acting on the magneto shaft and thetrip arm 26, will bring the contact surfaces 25 and 26 together withsuflicient force to overcome the action of the torsion spring 23 on themovable electrode shaft 15 and cause the movable electrode to separate ashort distance from the. fixed electrode. \Yhen, however, the engine'causes the magneto'operating mecha; nism to move the trip 26, toseparate the contact surfaces 25 26", the tension of springs 30, 31being relieved, the torsion spring 23 controlling the movable electrodewill then be free to bring the electrodes together and hold the points16 and 22 normally together until the rebound of the magneto upon itsrelease will cause the surface 26 on trip arm 26 to strike forcibly, orwith a hammer effect the surface 25, which will separate the the outerends of branches 34, 35, formed in-*- tegrally with the inside nitercasing.

In order to improve the appearance of my igniter, and at the same timeinclose as far P ate 20, of the igas possible operative parts, includingthe" rotor or armature, I prefer to form 'the magnets of the materialcommonly employed which is relatively hard steel in two U- shapedpieces, indicated by the reference characters 36, 37, and assemble themin order to form a closure as illustrated, particularly in Fig. 2 of thedrawings.

The members 36, 37 when assembled'in manner shown in Fig. 2, form fourwalls of a closure, the closure being completedby the addition of theinside plate 20, already referred to, and an outer plate indicated bythe reference character 38, both plates 20 and 38 being secured by aplurality of screws as indicated by the reference character 39, saidscrews passing through both inside and outside plates and engaging polepieces 40, 41, of soft iron as commonly used for this purpose, which aresecured to the U-shaped magnet pieces 36, 37, by screws as indicated at42, 43, said screws serving at the same time to bind the U-shapedmagnets 36, '37 together. The rotor shaft 27 is journaled in suitablehearings in the inside and outside cover plates 20 and 38. Adjacent thejournal opening in the inside cover plate 20 on the interior of therotor casing, there is formed a housing into which is shrunk a bearingring 46, provided with a peripheral groove adapted to furnish a seat forantifriction balls 47, there being a ring'48'also provided with aperipheral cooperating groove securely fastened to rotate with shaft 27,by being shrunk thereon or otherwise se cured to the same. A similaranti-friction ball bearing is formed in outer side plate 38, theremovable bearing ring being indicated by the reference character 49,the shaft collar by the reference character 50, both being grooved andball bearings 47 interposed. The outer extremity of rotor shaft 27 ispreferably terminated on the inside of the outer cover plate 38, inorder to make the interior of the lgniter casing as compiete a closureas possible, and to exclude dirt,.dust and all foreign particles fromthe interior.

The pole piece 40 is preferably made of a plurality of plates usuallriveted together as at 45, and is preferably bifurcated or branched asshown in Fig. 2. Around one of these branches is wound the usual coil51. The opposite inner extremities of the pole pieces 40, 41, are shapedin order that the rotor or armature may coiiperate therewith,

as shown also in Fig. 2, the rotor being secured to shaft 27 and beingpreferably of the regular form, having a hub portion and two opposedextensions, the outer extremi ties of which are expanded, each to extendabout ninety degrees around the periphery of the rotor. The hub portionof the rotor is indicated by the reference character 52, the extensionsby the reference characters 53, 54, and the expanded outer portions bythe reference characters 55, 56. The expanded outer portions 55, 56 ofthe rotor are in close proximity to the circumferential surfaces at theinner ends of pole pieces 40, 41, but not in actual contact with thesepole pieces.

The wire of the coil 51 is secured at one extremityto the binding post57, where it is grounded to inside cover plate 20. At its otherextremity the wire of the coil is secured to binding post 19, beforereferred to, which is insulated from the inside cover plate 20, and haselectrical connection through conductor 18, with. the stationaryinsulated electrode 14.

The preferred manner of installing and operating the device isillustrated in Fig. 1, the igniter block 11 carrying the movable andstationary electrodes being inserted in the usual firing chamber in thewall of the cylinder of an explosive engine. A suitable connection ismade for operating the device from the exhaust valve operating rod ofthe engine.

In the drawings, the exhaust valve operating rod is indicated by thereference character 57, and is shown as having pivotal connection at itsupper extremity, as indi cated at 58, with the exhaust valve rocker arm.A suitable finger 59 is pivoted at 60 to the block 61, which ispreferably made in two parts and clamped or otherwise secured to exhaustvalve operating rod 57 by bolt 62. The upper extremity of finger 59 isdeflected in order to engage and operate the hammer arm 26 through thereciprocations of the rod 57. The plane of reciprocation of the pivotedfinger 59 is controlled by means of fixed roller 63 on stationary arm64, on bracket 65, secured to the cylinder 10 of the engine. In order tohold the igniter operating finger 59 normally against the roller 63, theflat spring 66 is interposed between the finger and the rod 57.

The operation of the device is as follows: As the exhaust valveoperating rod 57 is re ciprocated by the movement of the engine tum ofthe rotor or parts will be in a position shown in Figs.

3 and 5, the surface 26 on the trip arm 26, and the coiiperating surface25 on the outer extremity of the movable electrode shaft-being inengagement. The effect of the action of finger 59 as the exhaust valveoperating rod is lifted will be to separate the surfaces 26 and 25without aflecting the' relative positions of the electrodes which arenormally together. The rocking of the trip arm 26, however, and therotor shaft 27 will move the rotor and the circumferential portions 55,56 thereof, which lie close to the pole pieces 40, 41, in relation tosaid pole pieces and against the tension of tension springs 30, 31. Whenthe exhaust valve operating rod has carried the trip finger 59, asufficient distance upwardly, the trip arm 26 will become disengaged,and under the action of springs 30, 31 will quickly return the rotorshaft and the rotor to their initial position. This rotation of therotor or armature will cause a current to be generated in a well knownmanner, which will ass through the pole pieces and through coil 51, asthe lines of magnetic force are shiftedby the rotor or inductor, theelectric circuit extending from the coil to the insulated post 19,thence, through conductor wire 18 to the insulated and stationaryelectrode 14, thence through the contacting igniter points 16, 22,through movable electrode 15 and through wire grounded at binding post57 to the coil. The rotor or inductor being on its return movement underthe actionof springs 30, 31, and a current being induced through thecircuit, the trip arm 26 will be returned to normal with considerableforce and the momentum of the parts will cause the surface 26 of thetrip arm to strike the coiiperating surface 25 on the inner extremity ofthe movable electrode and rotate the same against the action of spring23, which will separate igniter point 22 from 16 and cause a spark topass at this instant through the gap between the points. This separationof the igniter points will be caused by the momeninductor, its shaft andthe parts connected therewith under the action of springs 30, 31, as theparts pass beyond their normal position, will cause them ultimately toreturn to normal and the igniter points 16, 22 to contact, after thespark has passed.

One of the important features of the presentinvention lies in thearrangement of the parts, by which the rotor shaft 27 on which scentered the pivoted trip arm 26, lies in the same axial line as theoscillating electrode shaft 15. Heretofore, the trip arm 2% has usuallybeen pivoted on an axial line removed from the axial line of either ofthe electrodes. The electrodes are passed through the igniter block andthe igniter block serves as the means of secure ment of the device tothe engine. Therefore, any movement of the igniter block heretofore. hasbeen imparted to the trip arm 26, and such movement has usually beenmultiplied because the extreme outer end of the trip arm which contactswith the means for operating the igniter from the engine has been verymuch ofi center from the i iter block. In the present construction t etrip arm 26 being centered. on the i gniter block, any movement of theigniter block will afiect the relation of the parts only in theslightest degree, and hence reduce to a minimum the liability ofvariation in the time of spark due to movement of the trip arm.

In order that the invention might be fully understood the details of thepreferred embodiment have been described.

It is not desired to be limited to exact constructions shown for'it willbe apparent that those skilled in this art may make many modifications,without departing from the purpose and spirit of the invention.

1. In a magneto for explosive engines the combination with a rotor orinductor, of a plurality of magnets secured together and encircling therotor or inmlctor, opposed pole pieces secured to the said magnets andcooperating with the rotor or inductor, a coil wound around one of thesaid pole pieces, side plates secured to the magnets and formingtherewith a complete closure for the rotor or inductor, a shaftjournalcd in said side plates for supporting the said rotor or inductor,and means for imparting an oscillatory movement to the said rotor orinductor shaft by the running of the engine.

2. In a magneto for explosive engines the combination with a rotor orinductor, a plurality of magnets securedvtogether and en circlingtherotor or inductor, opposed side plates secured to the magnets andforming therewith complete closure for the rotor or inductor, anoscillating shaft journaled in the said side plates for supporting thesaid rotor or inductor, elastic means for controlling the oscillatingmovement of the rotor, and an arm on one of the said sideplates forsupporting the said elastic means.

3. In a magneto for explosive engines the I combination with a rotor orinductor, of a plurality of magnets, secured together and intenseencircling the rotor, or inductor, o posed side plates secured toithemagnets an forming therewith a" complete. closure for the rotor orinductor, a shaft journaled in the said side plates for supporting thesaid rotor or inductor, a pair of springs adapted to control themovement of the said rotor or inductor shaft and a' pair of opposed armscast integral with one of said side plates and being adapted to supportone end of each of said springs at their outer ex tremities.

at In amagneto for explosive engines the combination with a rotor orinductor, of a plurality of magnets secured together and encircling therotor or inductor, opposed sideplates secured-to the magnets and formingtherewith a complete closure for the rotor or inductor, a shaftjournaled in the said side plates for supporting the saidrotor orinductor, opposite pole pieces secured to the said magnets-on theinterior of the closure, and means for securing the said side plates tothe said pole pieces of the magnets. V i Y 5. in a magneto for explosionengines, the combination with .-a rotor or inductor, of

. a plurality of magnets secured together and encircling the inductor orrotor, said magnets being formed of relatively hardened steel, opposedside pieces secured to the j magnets and forming therewith a completeclosure for the rotor or inductor, pole-pieces of relatively soft ironremovably secured to the magnets on the interior of the closure,

and a coil secured to one of the pole-pieces.

6. Ina magneto for explosive engines, the combination with anoscillating rotor or inductor, of ashaft therefor, said shaft beingadapted to be connected with the oscillating shaft of a movableelectrode on the engine whereby the axis of the rotor or inductor shaftwill coincide with the axis of the shaft of the said movable electrode,and

means for coupling the rotor or inductor shaft directly with theoscillating shaft of the movable electrode, whereby the movemcnt of therotor or inductor shaft by the runmng of the engine will impart itsmove-- ment to the said oscillating shaft of the movable electrode, saidcoupling means lyin a roximatel within the circumference & I

of both said shafts.

in testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 19th day of August A. D.1911.

EDMU'ND'JOSEPH KANE. Witnesses A. L. SPRINKLE, NINA J. HALSNE.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner 05 ratents,

Washington, :0. c."

